Out of Class Essay.
I think that Catullus views Acme and Septimius" relationship in two ways. He believes that they are both equally in love, but that he also pities Septimius for being so in love. Catullus conveys how both people equally care about each other in the second line, mutuis animis amant amantur, which says that they love and are loved with mutual parts. He also believes that they have a pure and very fortunate relationship. In the first line, Catullus wrote ab auspicio bono profecti, which means "having set out from a good omen". Septimius and Acme's love was so true that even Cupid had well-omened it. Also in the last two lines Catullus wrote Quis ullos Venerem auspicatiorem. "Who has seen any people more happy? Who has seen Venus more omened?" Catullus may have been saying this sarcastically to have people think of him and Lesbia, but if this is taken literally then Catullus believes that they have a great relationship and that people could learn from the two of them. .
However, the middle four lines seem to be trying to communicate another idea of Catullus. In the third line, Acme and Unam, which goes with Acme, are placed at the ends of the line. The two words surround, Septimius misellus, poor little Septimius. This word order is not only chiastic, but it also makes it seem like Acme has Septimius wrapped up. Also in that, line Catullus describes Septimius with misellus, or "poor little Septimius". The fact that he describes Septimius this way makes it seem as if he pities him. He may feel sorry for him because, unam Acmen mavult quam Syrias Britanniasque, he prefers Acme alone rather than Syrian and British women.
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